Black-out device



16, 1943- R. c. PETERS M. 7 2,311,348 7 BLACK-OUT DEVICE Filed Jan. '7, 1942 Patented Feb. 16, 1943 BLACK-OUT DEVICE Raphael C. Peters, New York, and Renato Santone, Larchmont, N. Y.

Application January 7, 1942, Serial No. 425,876

3 Claims.

This invention relates to black-out devices, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and inexpensive portable frame construction of light-weight opaque material which may be quickly placed in position within the frame of a window or door and is effective to prevent the passage of light, but which, without removal from the window or door frame, may be instantaneously operated to permit the passage of light during such periods when the necessity for black-out has passed.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawing accompanying this specification,

Fig. l is a front view of a black-out device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the dotted lines indicating the open position of the side and end flanges;

Fig 2 is a perspective view of the structure before the flanges are folded for insertion into the window frame; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 5 designates a frame which may be made of cardboard or other suitable light-weight material, said frame being provided with top and bottom flanges 6 and 1 respectively and side flanges 8, all of said flanges being foldable at right angles to the frame whereby the frame may be placed within the opening of a window or door frame and secured in position by tacking or cementing said flanges to the window frame. The opening 9 formed between the frame members 5 is approximately of the same dimensions as the light-opening of the Window or door in which it is to be installed.

The frame members 5 are formed of two layers of material, and, as shown in Fig. 3, one layer is offset or separated from the other for a part of its width as shown at 15, to provide a channel or guideway for receiving and guiding theedges of a curtain or shade l0 adapted to be moved vertically therein so as to close the opening between the frame members and prevent light from passing through the window or door opening. The frame may be made up of a strip of material of twice the required width folded over upon itself, a narrow dividing strip being placed between the folded layers adjacent to the outer edge of the frame thereby to maintain the layers a sufficient distance apart to form a guideway for the shade as above stated, it being understood that the edges of the shade must extend suificiently far between the strips of the frame to ensure that no light will pass.

As shown herein the shade I0 is mounted on a spring roller such as is commonly used in connection with ordinary window shades, the trunnions I l of said roller being mounted for rotation in perforated end brackets l2 secured on the top flange 6 of the frame. A slit I3 is cut in the top cross member of the frame, said slit communicating with the end guideway or channel formed between the frame-forming strips, and the leading end of the shade is directed through said slit and channel-with its side edges disposed in the channels formed between the side strips of the frame. By means of a pull cord l4 passing through an eyelet IS in the lower cross member of the frame and attached at one end to the leading end of the shade the latter may be pulled down until its leading edge is sufficiently far within the cross channel between the lower end frame strips to prevent passage of light. The shade may be let up by giving the cord a quick short pull whereupon the spring roller will raise the shade in the well known manner.

In a simpler form of the device the shade roller may be omitted and cords attached at both ends of the shade for pulling it either up or down.

The operation of the device will be obvious from the foregoing description, it being understood that with a complete device such as that described installed in every window and door frame in a building the latter may be completely blacked out in the short space of time required for pulling all of the shade into position to cover the light-openings of the Windows and doors. On the other hand, when the/necessity for black-out has passed the shades can be moved out of the way in a few moments, leaving the light openings entirely unobstructed.

It is of course necessary that the device be snugly fitted within the permanent window and door frames. For that reason, while the device may be made up in all the standard sizes, it is proposed also to market the frame members in knock-down form, the frame-forming strips varying in length so that they may be cut to fit any special window or door opening, it being a very simple matter to cut the ends of the side and end members of the frame so as to provide overlapping portions which may be cemented to; gether,

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A black-out device comprising a frame of light-weight opaque material having light-proof means for securing it within the opening of a window frame, a movable opaque member carried by said black-out frame and operable to a member having its side edges disposed in said channels and movable longitudinally thereby to cover the window opening and prevent passage of light therethrough, and means to facilitate operating said movable member.

3. A black-out device comprising a frame having side and end members made up of superim posed parallel strips of opaque material spaced apart for a portion of their width thereby to form a channel within the frame, one end channel having a longitudinal slot spaced from the open side thereof, flanges carried by said frame at its outer edges and bendable at right angles thereto for securing the frame within a light opening, a shade-roller mounted for rotation on the end member of said frame having the slot, a shade of opaque material secured on said roller and having its leading edge guided through the slot and open side of said slotted channel in said end member and its side edges disposed in the side channels of the frame, and means to facilitate operating said shade and to carry its leading edge into the channel in the opposite end member of the frame.

RAPHAEL C. PETERS. RENATO SANTONE. 

